Officers were conducting surveillance of a house in the 4500 block of 15th Avenue where Bates was reported to be hiding. At approximately 8:38 a.m., surveillance units observed several persons exit the residence in question, entering into a black in color GMC Yukon. As the vehicle left the residence westbound down the alleyway, Rock Island Police Department squad cars initiated a traffic stop, blocking the vehicle from exiting the alleyway. The vehicle initially started backing away but stopped, with officers ordering the occupants to exit the vehicle. While giving orders to exit, officers heard a single gunshot from within the vehicle. Once the remaining occupants were removed, Officers located Bates in the rear passenger compartment suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A weapon was recovered from the person of Bates.

Bates was transported to Unity Point Health by the Rock Island Fire Department where he remains in critical condition.

The other vehicle occupants, which included both adults and children, were transported from the scene to the Rock Island Police Department and later released.

The neighborhood was blocked off by officers until both the scene and residence in question were secured. The Rock Island Police Department was assisted by the Davenport Police Department, the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department, the Moline Police Department, and the Rock Island Fire Department.

During the course of the incident, there were no shots fired by officers and no injuries sustained by anyone else.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Rock Island Police Department at 309-732-2677 or Crimestoppers at 309-762-9500.